Lionheart (Marvel Comics)
| Lionheart | |
|---|---|
| File:NEXCAL004 COV fin scaled 8.jpg Kelsey Leigh with the original Captain Britain Art by Michael Ryan | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Avengers Vol. 3, #77 (modern, 2004) |
| Created by | Chuck Austen Oliver Coipel |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Kelsey Leigh |
| Team affiliations | None, The Avengers |
| Notable aliases | Lionheart of Avalon, Captain Britain |
| Abilities | Kelsey's body has been mystically altered, granting her superior strength, agility, endurance, speed, and reflexes. She also wields the Sword of Might, a mystical weapon that is invulnerable to all harm. It serves to channel mystical energy so she never tires. (This energy can also be harnessed for destructive blasts or protective shields) |
Lionheart, the alter ego of Kelsey Leigh, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero. She first appeared in The Avengers Vol.3, #77 (2004).
History
Origins
Kelsey Leigh was a single mother with two young children. Her face was scarred from a previous brutal attack when men invaded her home and assaulted her. She otherwise lived an ordinary life in South-East England.
One fateful day, her family found themselves on the front line of a battle between the Avengers and the Wrecking Crew. Thunderball rendered Captain America unconscious and Kelsey selflessly put herself between the fallen Captain and Wasp, using the downed hero's shield. While the shield was indestructible, Kelsey wasn't, and the shock from the blows inflicted terrible injuries; she died en route to receiving medical attention.
Kelsey awoke to find herself in a ring of standing stones, where she was met by a vision of Brian Braddock (Captain Britain I). To save Britain from the evil Morgan le Fay, he passed the mantle of Captain Britain to Kelsey. Her heroic act of bravery had earned her a second chance to live and to defend her home. Given the choice between the Sword of Might and the Amulet of Right, Kelsey, desperate to see her children again, and not seeing how a necklace could defend anything, chose the sword, the path of violence. Instantly, she was transformed into the new Captain Britain, only to discover that her decision meant that if she ever revealed who she was to her children, it would cost their lives.
Avengers
The new Captain Britain returned to Earth, where she helped the Avengers defeat Morgan and her cronies, proving herself to be far more ruthless in battle than her predecessor. With her children now in the Avengers' care, Kelsey accepted an offer to join the team, so that even if she could not be reunited with them, she could remain near them.
Kelsey remained a member of the Avengers until the events of Avengers Disassembled. When She-Hulk went crazy after an attack by Ultron robots, Kelsey stepped up, once again putting herself in the path of danger to rescue the fallen Captain America. She-Hulk knocked her out, and she spent the remainder of the unfolding events in the hospital, her status critical.
Captain Britain pulled through, and in Avengers Finale, the group disbanded. Kelsey left the Avengers, returning home to England. She is still active as a superhero there, but now under the name of Lionheart.